SLO Airport employees picketing for wages, safety, and health care
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Piedmont Airline pickets continue in San Luis Obispo.
For over a year, Piedmont Airlines and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) bargaining team have been in negotiations for better conditions, but the company has yet to respond.
San Luis Obispo airport staff demonstrated Monday in the entrance parking lot, 2 months after their last picket here in October.
“It's an ongoing issue with wages has been the number one. And, of course, medical benefits and safety items,” says Tom Garza, CWA district vice president.
Passenger service and ramp workers report low wages, a reliance on help from the government, and sometimes no health coverage.
“We have members in there who are there, part timers. So they'll pick up as many shifts as they can throughout the day just to supplement their income. we have also members in there who are on subsidized incomes where they have to get subsidized through the state of California just to help pay their monthly payments,” says Garza.
Employees are announcing they are no longer able to wait for negotiations to play out and they need a contract now.
“It's a very physical job. It's a very demanding job. They work in the elements.they're busting their tails. And for under $19 an hour in San Luis County, I mean, it's a very tough ongoing economy struggle just to survive,” says Garza.
Piedmont Airlines is owned by parent company American Airlines.
“The picketing here at the airport today doesn't have anything to do with the Slow County airport. Rather, it's a corporate matter. Passengers can still expect to have on time departures and on time arrivals. And a smooth experience here at the airport,” says
Courtney Pene, SLO airport deputy director of planning and Outreach.
“Nothing against the airport of San Luis Obispo itself. It's just. Just the airlines We need a fair contract for. For the members. So it's all we're asking for,” says Garza.
CWA says while they continue to wait for a new contract, they’ll be moving forward with safety grievances which haven't been addressed, involving passenger wheelchair ramps and luggage loading equipment that remains broken with no repair date in sight.
